Inter-agency war may have caused Mithi river flooding

A TUG-OF-WAR between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) may have caused Saturday's flooding of hutments on the banks of the Mithi river, forcing the evacuation of at least 1,500 people. Local corporator S. Annamalai told HT on Monday that four months ago, AAI started constructing a boundary wall for the airport. "It was an open area, mostly farmland. It helped the overflowing water spread northwards, sparing slums on one side. However, AAI didn't heed my warning that the wall would land up marooning slums on the other side," said Annamalai. "That's exactly what happened on Saturday." Annamalai said repeated pleas to AAI to construct a wide drain adjacent to the wall to carry away excess water fell on deaf ears. Annamalai said he then started constructing the drain on his own, but AAI lodged a complaint at Saki Naka police station and "I was forced to stop". Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Pathak too blamed AAI. "It was supposed to construct the drain, but it did not," he told HT. But S.R.R. Rao, AAI's regional executive director, flatly denied the charge. "I am not aware of any such commitment," he said. When asked about AAI's complaint against Annamalai, Rao said: "After Mumbai International Airport Ltd took over the land, some officials worked for it on deputation. They may have filed a complaint on a AAI letterhead."

Tags

Infrastructure,Political Affairs

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